Luminaire



V. S. WINCE Sept. 8, 1-964 LUMINAIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR 1 54? ,s'. W/NcE Sept. 8, Q 1964 v. s. WINCE LUMINAIRE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR 1 5424. .8. Mums ATTORNEYS United, States Patent 3,147,929 LUMINAIRE Vearl S. Wince, Newark, Ohio, assignor to Holophane Company, lino, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 767,681 3 Claims. ((11. 240-132) This invention relates in general to lighting fixtures, and particularly to a new and useful lighting fixture having a pair of complementary bail supporting members adapted to engage a peripheral flange of a light transmitting member and including toggle latching portions for holding the light transmitting member in close proximity to the socket mounting base of the lighting fixture.

The present invention is directed to a novel lighting fixture including a socket member adapted to be ailixed and positioned, at a location such as a ceiling, and includes at least two depending complementary bail supporting members which may be easily unlatched to provide access for a light transmitting globe which covers the lamp of the lighting fixture.

A feature of the invention is that the light transmitting globe may be easily positioned on unlatched pivotal bail members and swung up into a recessed portion of a lamp socket holder by latching the bail members and without requiring securing screws, mating threaded portions, or the like, as in previous constructions.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lighting fixture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture including means for easily attaching and securing a light transmitting globe in position over the lamp socket of an improved lighting fixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevation and partial transverse section of a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the lighting fixture indicated in FIG. 1 with the light transmitting cover globe shown in position for being secured to the lamp socket portion of the fixture;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the lighting fixture indicated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the lighting fixture ture indicated in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied therein includes an electrical conduit which is normally positioned in the ceiling and to which is secured, and electrically connected, a lighting fixture generally designated 12. The lighting fixture 12 includes a substantially bell shaped lamp socket member 14 having a central socket 13 extending downwardly from its interior and in which is positioned a lamp 15.

The lamp socket member 14 includes a lower outwardly extending annular flange 16 on top of which is positioned a pair of upstanding diametrically opposed bosses 18 and 2t on each of which is pivotally mounted latch ing members 22 and 24, respectively. The latching members 22 and 24 include corresponding finger gripping portions 26, 26. The latching members are rotatable on piv- Patented Sept; 8, 1964 0t pins 27, 27 from a position in which they are adjacent the side walls of the lamp socket member 14, as indicated in FIG. 1, to a position at which they extend substantially below the flange 16.

In accordance with the invention, each of the latching members 22 and 24 is provided with a bail clamping member or sling 28 and 3%, respectively. The bail securing members 28 and 3t) are pivotally mounted on the associated latching members, having pivot points 32, 32, each of which is displaced from the pivot pins 27 of the latching members 22 and 24. Each bail clamping member includes a pair of spaced downwardly diverging arms 36 and 38 (see FIG. 4) which extend inwardly at their lower ends and which are connected at their lower ends by an arcuate globe supporting member 4% extending in an outwardly convex path, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The pivot pins 27 and the pivot points 32 are located in a position which permits the latching members 22 and 24 to function as toggles. Thus in the latched position indicated in FIG. 1 the center of the pivot points 32 are located in a direction of latching movement over a center line extending through the centers of the supporting member iii and the pivot pins 27.

A combination lamp cover and light transmitting globe generally designated 42 comprises an upper portion 43 which is provided with an upper annular flange 44 adapted for positioning within the flange portion 16 of the lamp socket member 14, and a lower portion 45 each having opposed flanges held together by an exterior annular metal flange clip 4d, the underside of which is formed as an inverted U in cross-section (FIG. 1) and is engaged by the supporting member portion 40 of the bail supporting members 28 and 30 for substantially onehalf of the circumference of the underface of the clip 46, one-quarter of the circumference on opposite sides thereof being supported by each of the support members 4%) (see FIG. 3). Suitable flexible gaskets 48 and 50 are provided between the opposed mating flanges of the upper portion 43 and the lower portion 45 and between the lower portion 45 and the clip 46. The arrangement is such that the supporting member portion 40 makes contact with the metal and will not break the glass portions 43 and 45 under latching stresses. The gaskets 48 and 50 are provided at locations where stress is likely and hence no gasket is needed above the flange of the upper portion 43.

When it is desired to remove the combination lamp cover and light transmitting globe 42, such as for cleaning purposes or for lamp changing purposes, it is merely necessary to place a finger at the locations A and B in FIG. 1 and flip the latches 22 and 24 downwardly. This effects downward movement of the bail supporting members 28 and 3t) and displacement downwardly of the combination light directing and cover member 42. In the downwardly displaced position it is a simple matter to remove the combination lamp cover and light transmitting globe 42 by swinging one of the supporting bails to clear the edge of the flange 46 and permit removal therefrom.

When it is desired to replace the light transmitting and cover member 42, the supporting bails 28 and 39 are swung apart and the member 42 is positioned with its top flange 44 fitted within the flange 16. Thereafter, the bail supporting members 28 and 30 are swung inwardly to bring the supporting portions 4t underneath the flange 46. The latches 22 and 24 are then swung upwardly into position adjacent the walls of the lamp socket member 14 as indicated in FIG. 1 to effect raising of the globe 42 into position beneath the flange 16.

Thus the invention provides a lighting fixture having a light transmitting and cover member which may be easily removed and replaced for lamp changing purposes.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp socket member having a lamp socket and a recessed portion in its lower portion, a combination light transmitting and cover member having an upper flange portion fitted into the recessed portion of said socket member, said combination light transmitting and cover member being wider and having a flanged portion intermediate its height and substantially extending around the periphery thereof, a pivoted latch on said lamp socket member adjacent said recessed portion and substantially above said combination light transmitting and cover member, a bail pivotally connected to said latch and pivotal about a point removed from the pivot point of said latch, said bail extending below said flanged portion intermediate the height of said cover member and having a sling portion at its end positioned beneath and extending a substantial distance along the undersurface of the flange portion of said combination light transmitting and cover member the arrangement between said latch, said bail, and said combination light transmitting and cover member being such that downward pivotal movement of said latch and said bail is effective to lower said combination light transmitting and cover member for removal thereof from said sling portion and upward pivotal rotation of said latch is eflfective to tightly fix said combination light transmitting and cover member within said recess portion of said lamp socket member.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a substantially bell shaped lamp socket holder having an outwardly extending flange at its bottom end, a lamp socket connected to the bottom interior of said socket holder, a refractor globe comprising an upper portion having a flanged neck positioned against said flange of said socket holder and a lower portion, each of said upper and lower portions diverging outwardly toward one another and having opposed outwardly extending mating flanges, and a clip 4 encircling the flanged portions of said upper and lower portions and holding them in mating proximity, a latch pivotally mounted on said lamp socket holder adjacent said outwardly extending flange at the bottom end of said lamp socket holder and substantially above said flanged neck of said upper portion of said refractor globe, a bail pivotally connected to said latch and pivotal about a point removed from the pivot point of said latch, said bail having a sling portion positioned beneath the flange of the lower portion of said refractor globe in contact with said clip and extending a substantial distance therebeneath, the arrangement between said latch, said bail and said mating flanges of said refractor globe being such that downward pivotal movement of said latch and said ball is effective to lower said refractor globe for removal thereof from said sling portion and upward pivotal rotation of said latch is effective to tightly fix said refractor globe against the flange of said socket holder.

3. A refractor globe comprising complementary upper and lower light transmitting portions each having opposed peripheral flanges, a gasket between said flanges, and a clip extending peripherally around and over said flanges to hold the portions together, said clip forming at its undersurface a downwardly facing recess area for receiving support means therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,256 Schepmoes Nov. 5, 1912 1,093,619 Hamm Apr. 21, 1914 2,011,118 Rosebraugh et al. Aug. 13, 1935 2,167,184 Phillips July 25, 1939 2,202,590 Korengold May 28, 1940 2,732,482 Wince Jan. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 337,786 Germany June 9, 1921 717,151 Germany Feb. 6, 1942 201,821 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1923 132,470 Australia May 26, 1949 

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING A LAMP SOCKET MEMBER HAVING A LAMP SOCKET AND A RECESSED PORTION IN ITS LOWER PORTION, A COMBINATION LIGHT TRANSMITTING AND COVER MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER FLANGE PORTION FITTED INTO THE RECESSED PORTION OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER, SAID COMBINATION LIGHT TRANSMITTING AND COVER MEMBER BEING WIDER AND HAVING A FLANGED PORTION INTERMEDIATE ITS HEIGHT AND SUBSTANTIALLY EXTENDING AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, A PIVOTED LATCH ON SAID LAMP SOCKET MEMBER ADJACENT SAID RECESSED PORTION AND SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID COMBINATION LIGHT TRANSMITTING AND COVER MEMBER, A BAIL PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LATCH AND PIVOTAL ABOUT A POINT REMOVED FROM THE PIVOT POINT OF SAID LATCH, SAID BAIL EXTENDING BELOW SAID FLANGED PORTION INTERMEDIATE THE HEIGHT OF SAID COVER 